Flexible chain mat for pneumatic and other tires



J. F QLDFIELD FLEXIBLE cHAIN MAT Foa PNEUMATIC AND OTHER mms `v Filed nec. e, 1

O... 4 wf F 0 Z om 4 Sheets-Sheet. 1

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J. F. OLDFIELD FLEXIBLE CHAIN MAT Foa 'PNEUMATIC AND OTHER TIRES Filed 069228, 1919 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 @EE- zjs; 192m I 1,513,266

J.l F. OLDFIELD FLEXIBLE CHAIN MAT Fon PNEUMATIG AND OTHER TIRES Filed Dec. 8 1919 4 Sheets-Sheet` 4 l1/wanton The links 10 are formed, as is shown in Figs. and 6, from metal of a semi-circular, crosssectional area having the inner surface fiat as at 11 and the outer surface 12, curved. The links are proportioned so that their inner diameter at 15 is considerably greater' than the diameter of t-he metal in the rings upon which they are mounted.

Tracing the chains running diagoiially of the longitudinal direction of the tread and formed by alternate rings and links it will be apparent that the contour of the tire will throw these chains out of the plane in which they have been illustrated and that the chains may be said to run spiraliy of the tire. It follows that the rings will lrest in planes perpendicular to the adjacent tire surface and each successive ring in the chain will be out of the plane of the preceding ring. As each ring tends to hold its attached links perpendicular to the plane of the ring and as the vlinks between successive rings are subject to the influence of both rings, the links assume positions perpendicular to the surface of the tire at points midway between the centers of the successive rings. This may be described as the rey` sult of the twisting eHect of two rings on the intervening link. As the rings conform in their planes to the tangents of the tire surface it follows that the links are held in proper position to maintain contact with the surface of the road without twisting or dia torting from the plane perpendicular to the tire surface at the point of contact.

Each link has an opening 16 in one side transverse to its longitudinal This opening is proportioned to the width et the adjacent ring in the following manner. The ends 13 and 14- of the link approach too closely to permit the insertion or removal ot a ring after the ring is moved in planes parallel to the longitudinal axis of the link. However, if one portion of the ring is brought between the longitudinal axis of the link the portion of the ring between the ends will just pass between the ends 13 and l1- and into the space of the link. rllhe ring may then be brought with its plane coincident with the longitudinal axis of the link. ln the latter position and in all positions except where the plane of the ring` is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the link, the removal of the ring trom the link is impossible.

lNhere applied to the longitudinal chains A, the links 10 have similar transverse openings, but the amount ai play of the chains and the close approach of the ends 18 and 1i prevents the accidental removal of the rings 9.

The spaced rings 9 in one chain are in symmetrical arrangement with the corref-fj'ionding rings in the other chain and are connected to the latter by means ,of short split links 17, constructed similarly to the links 10 and having similar proportions.

Connecting the rings 9 of one chain to the rings of the other chain, and extending in a diagonal direction are the interlocking split links 18 and 19. ldlach of these links is relatively long and has a transverse opening in the middle of one side. rEhe ends ot the link incline inward toward the opposite side of the link as they approach the centre. rThe opening in the link is sutl` iicient to permit the insertion and removal of the ring 9 in the manner above indicated ,with respect to links 10. The latter ring S),

substantially occupies by its thickness the space between the end of the link and the opposite side wall of the link, but when the ring has seated itself in the bight 15') of the link there would be considerable freedom of movement providing the adjacent "ings 9 are in the same plane. As the adjacent rings 9 are distorted out of the same piane when in position upon the tire it follows that the intervening links are rigidi).y held in an intermediate position in the inlan-V ner above described. The link is therefore held against rotational distortion around its longitudinal axis. its assembled the frerends of the link 18 embrace the middle of the opposite wall of the link 19 and vice versa. lin this manner the space in the diagonal direction between rings 9 of the two chains is substantially filled, on both the side toward the road and the side toward the tire.

The assembly of the links upon the rings as above described constitutes one unit ot' the covering and may be defined as a group of four rings whose planes are tangential to the surfaces of the tire, connected along their lines of adjacent centres by short split links and along the diagonal lines of centres by long split links This relation of rings, snort links and long diagonal links occurs throughout the length of the chains and 'forms the tread for the armor.

The ends of the longitudinal chains A, ,er are brought together around the tire and fastened by suitable members. In some instances these members may have locking devices although it is also possible to use the links 1() for this purpose. ln order to insure a tight fit rings of slightly smallerl diameter may be substituted at regular, equal and opposite intervals in the chains.

Side chains l?) are located on the outward sides of the chains A. These side chains are constituted of alternate rings 20 and split links 21. Each link is split in the middle of one side to provide a transverse opening, large enough for the insertion of the ring` 20. Each ring 2O is flattened on one side seginentally as at 22.

The oppcsite portion of the ring is connected by two links 23 and 24: to adjacent lll.)

rings 9. These short links 23 and 24 are thus diagonally disposed with respect to the chain and are split to provide openings, shown at 24', Fig. 7, diagonally of their axes. the opening in one side is given an inclination to the right of the longitudinal axis 0i the link substantiallyv o. It may thus be termed a right link. Similarly, the link 24 being inclined in an opposite direction has the opening inclined to the left, and may be termed a left link. This brings the openings in the sidesot the links substantially parallel to the line of tread.

Inclining the openings 24 in the direction of the line of tread serves to pre-vent cutting or chafing of the tire in case the split side is in contact with the tire wall. The relative movement of the rings in the links is l1kewise yunder control and disengagement is prevented. For example in case the slackness of the cover permits the ring to slide toward the centre ot the link the ring cannot ordinarily pass out between the free ends of the link as one free end maintains contact and holds the ring in until the other free end engages the ring. To remove the ring from the link requires the lateral movement of the ring, that is a portion of the ring may be brought parallel and beneath the inclined opening. The ends of the link which pro` vide the inclined` opening are spaced apart only a distance suiiicient to permit the insertion and removal of the ring only after the f ring is turned into the plane of the opening.

At all other positions one or the other end ot the link prevents the removal of the ring as above described with respect to the corresponding links 10. The length of diagonal V slotis 40 per cent in excess of the transvers slot.

The straight portions 22 of rings 2O may be given suii'icient size to permit the connection of the chains and to bring the outer' rings closely in to the side walls of the tire and thus to conform to the adjacent rim of the wheel. The split links 21 allow assem-k bly butin normal Operationare tight enough to exert a pull in the direction of the axes ot the links 19 and 23, or 18 and 24 as the case may be.

By reference to Figure 1 it will be noted that in the development of the covering in a single plane the lines of centersdiagonally ot the rings 9 take the direction 'rt-a. The corresponding line of centers between the links 9 of chain A-and the adjacent links `20 of chain B is in the direction a-6. The

line b, a, af, b is not straight. lhen, liow- As links 23 incline in one direction `therefore be resisted on oneside by a pull from a diagonally disposed ring 9 of the opposite chainjA and on its other side by the adjacent ring 20.

The rings 9 and 2O may take any conven# i ient diameter and weight. The links 10, 17

Due to the periodic variation in size ot thev rings 9,*the line of centers, indicated by a, c, caf-ct, c, a, is not straight and the chains A-A are thereforev out of parallel. A ycor- 18 and 19 are' generally of thesame material responding variation in the rings 2O throws the chains A, Bout ofparallel as is evident from the line of centers d, d, 6,-5, d, L

It is sometimes.' advisable to provide a chain consisting of alternate rings and split links along the axis of the tread :z5-m. Such a chain C forms the` Acentre of the armored covering illustrated in Fig. 2. A central chain consists ot alternate spaced rings 9 and split links 18. The latter links are dis-v posed coincident with the axis -x.

nov

On each side of the centralchain is placedl i a longitudinal symmetrical chain A consisting of links 25 and rings '26. The links 25 1 are disposed opposite the rings 9 while the rings 26 are placed opposite the links 184 of the central chain C. Short links 27.*and 28` connect the rings or' chain C `with the adjacent rlngs of the chains A and are consequently disposed diagonallytothe lineof` tread. lThe links 27 are split along the middle otone side and in a diagonal direction forming` frights. The openings in the links 28 are oppositely inclined and'thus form leftslv Passing transversely of the line ot tread and' connecting the rings 26 of one side j chain to the corresponding rings 26 in the-v opposite chain are thesplit links 19 in the manner above described. j

1What may be termed a. unit ot tractive surface is thusl provided by two rings 9 ot the central chain and a` ring 26 of each side chain.

28. B y reason of the fact that the rings 1n their separate planes, tangential vto the several portions ot the curved tire surface,

twist the links laterally and4 thus hold them firmly, the latter are maintained at. right angles to the plane of the periphery ofthe.

tire and thus form 'an unyielding wearing side wvalls of the tiresand to be connectedwith the chains A by the. diagonal links 23 and 24. The links` 23 and 24 are made'` These support the diagonal links 18 and 19vand th@J sho-rt links 27 and y in two'vkinds, rights and lents in order that thev openings shall' bein substantial par'allelisinlto the line "of tread at this: point'.

The lines ot centers connectingv `chainv C to the rings: in chain A in the development of the ycovering*in a sing/jle plane are represented by c-a in Fig; 2.4 The line connecting; thecen'ters or". rings ot the chains' A and B is represented by amb. The/line ot' centers diagonal ot the tire t? a, c; a, Zi is not straight. lllhe'n,`however, the cover-l ing is in position contacting with thesui'- 'fa-cent the-tire thisline, re-prese-n'tinglA the direction "of vresistance "to pull or' displace ine-nt' on any un'it'r et tract-ive surface, is inv a plane inorebbliquely diagonal 'to 'the tire.1 This*"arranoeineiit serves to distribute vanv 2D .1 locali'iull to Ithe side ychains and intervencovering fasa`wl'1ole.'y reason of the ertedf atlany point is distributed tothe adja- (en-t-rings and to the outer chains;V

As described for the vchiaiii shown in ldig;` l, a similar lackof parallelism is evident in the chains'A, B and C where the/lines of centersc, ',-a,'c and (l, Y), b? (l alternately" approach and recede,

Vlfhelsif/ies of the-rings@ in chain C may he theS same although to insure close lit vwith thelsur'liace of the tire smaller rings may be substituted at'regula-r intervals@ A similar arrangement and substitution of rings may occur at opposite intervals in 'chains A and Bgl at: "alternating` V'points of chainl B thus maintaining `syiiiinetry with respect to the-line of' tread? This will also serve to brii'igthelines l), @,p'c, a, Zi into coincidencej The material oil' which thev links '18a closely'to thecurvature oft the latter and is not. `subject to niovenient. lli the covering` has been subjected to ronsiderable wear, the closed side et' lthe link, while considerably" weakened', is subject to only a small bending` effect and still retains a goed wearing surface against the road, being held up by support from the free ends. H- tlien the armor `is inverted bringing the worn side towa-rd'the tire surface the side will conform very closely to the surface and may even bend into' position of extensive contact therewith.1 The opposite side of the link now being on the outer side ot' the armor constitutes a nen7 wearing surface on the road'. The: action ot' the inner side et the ing members and serves 'to strengthen`"the diagonal" chains thus lrun'n'ing* de to 'side or' the covering pully eX- a fewer variety of' element sary to use but two sizesoilinks.'

` tance covered by theehalin applying' the lside 'having` 'the inwardly' bent ends lirsttoward the tireptheeiten'sivecontact with theliatter is attained froin'thejbe-A @inning of the use ofthe' arinor and is notA dependent upon the 'changeinV shape ofthe link.

in lili@n thereis shoivn a modification of a cove ganado frorn'theftwo longitudinal symmetrical L`chainsLl-"M, A h aving"l vilex'iblef intermediate elements." The cha 7A, A consistinthe rings I9 coiin'eleted intervening' links 25g'y The latter'link 25 ina-intain a considerable"space between the sucl cessive ring's). illinfiilf'ary transverse 'links' co-nneet the fopp'ositeadjacent rin;` of the'twolongitudinal chains. There isthus' forni ed hollen' lsquare' consisting of tonr rings 9 and opposite links`25 'and""25. ri`l"he`-v interior' of this square is oc'cupiedby ring'- 9, Connected `to -each of therings "9 vby a link l0.

By this structilre there. is avoided tlieiiecessity of usinglong an'd'frigid 'ineinbers 18 and i9, andthe' advanta is gainedot usin'g It is 'neces- Fig Ll shows' a. modiiicati'onwherein the chain C occupiestlre"line oftread. This chain is made ot alteri'iatespacfed large rings 9 and small rings29.y ConneLltinadjacentr rines are the short"longitudinahsplit links l() having" transverse openiiigts The side chains il are correspondingly constructed of large rings 26""an'd "small rings29coni" nected by thetishort 'splitlinks' 10i The" rings 26 are slightly smaller thanthe rings 9 due toi the vfact that "there 'areaii' equal and C2 but that the `peripheral distance covered by the cl'ia'in Agis less thanth'e disn C2. Tihe'l 29 inchain A are opijositethe"largerings 9 otcha'in C while?"the'sliglitly' reduced rings 26 ofchainii are 'placedopposite' small rings 29 j inllchaiinC. The large rings of one chain are connected to the ad jacentsmall rings of'the 'other cli'ainby means ofthe transverslelinks l0.' DiagonalI long 'split links 27 and`28i of the ksaine lengths as link 25,'r connect 'the adjacent'large rings ot' the longitudinal symmetrical chains." These"loiig'linksare split diagonally along one side' rto`provi'de:openingsy substantially parallel tothe' line of tread'.

This arrangenientprovides` a unit-of tractive surface Consisting of a large vriiiglsulliporting eight radialflinks wlii'ch latter bea'i` the wear. The radial links "are in turn oni nected to alternate langeand"sinalllfringslr and these surroiui'clingtrings; arev connected" by short split links. This serves to make the covering conform to the curved surface of the tire more closely than in the modification previously described and serves to eliminate the use of ylong links in center of tread. Due to the greater circumference along the line of tread and the lesser circumference on the. side walls of the tires the chains C and A and the outer binding chains abo-ve described7 will measure different lengths` lt is therefore to be understood that the size of the chains may be varied by the substitution at regular intervals of' slightly smaller rings. This insures a tight fit of the cover upon the tire.

The mode of insertion and locking of the rings has been illustrated in Figs. 10 and 1l. The split links are all constru-cted with ends which approach very close to the ring as the latter is inserted. Due to the .curvature of the ring it is necessary to hold it with is plane at right angles to the axis of the link until the ring has |been placed within the latter. The ring may then be brought in plane with the link axis. Fig. 11 shows the ring in such relationship, it being evident that so long as the diameter of the ring coincides with the axis of the link disengagement is impossible as one end of the link is is always over the ring member.

An armored flexible covering for pneumatic tires, constructedas above described, will lit the tire tightly as the result of assembly of the various construction units, and will also respond readily to adjustment and save the tire from frictional wear. It is of great benefit in preventing slipping and skidding on slippery roads and servesto assist such tendency in all directions equally well. Its use results in material economy in manufacture and maintenance of the tires.

It will be obvious that in assembly of covering and tire, the former is arranged around the deflated tire. The tire is then inflated. The dimensions of the covering are suiiiciently small toy establish a tight fit between the covering and tire.

The particularembodiment of my invention shown, is of course, susceptible of considerable variation without departing from the spirit of my invention, and it is to be understood that many changes may be made by those skilled in the art within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

therewith each chain What I claim is: i. A flexible armored covering for tires including a plurality of chains symmetrical to the line of tread'substantially parallel therewith each chain comprising spaced rings tangential `to the tire and alternate connecting links; and links connecting the rings of adjacent chains. n

2. A flexible armored covering vfor tires including a plurality of chains symmetrical to the line of tread substantially parallel comprising spaced rings tangential to the tire and alternate connecting links; and links connecting the rings of adjacent chainsin lines inclined to the line of tread. y I

3. A flexible armored covering for tires including a plurality of chains symmetrical to the line of tread substantially parallel therewith each chain comprising spaced rings tangential to the tire andv alternate connecting links; and links connecting the` includino` a plurality of chains symmetrical to the line of tread, each chain comprisingv alternate spaced rings tangential to the tire and connecting links; long split links connecting said rings of' the inner chains in a diagonal direction, shortsplit links con'- necting ,opposite rings of the inner chains; each inner chain being connected to the adjacent outer chain by short links.

G. A flexible armored covering for tires, including relatively longe riiattened split links intersecting in pairs at right angles and on the line of tread, spaced rings arranged in rows symmetrical to the line of the tread and carrying said links; short links connecting adjacent rings and` surrounding each pair (of intersecting links,

side chains and links connecting the rings therewith.

In testimony whereof l havehereunto set my hand.

' JGHN F. OLDFIELD. 

